Reversible and collapsible trolley-pole for electric vehicles.



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JOHN LINDSAY AND ROBERT LINDSAY, OF DUYEDIN, NEW ZEALAND.

REVERSIBLE AND COLLAPSIBLE TROLLEY-POLE FOR ELECTRIC vEHICLES.

Specicatonof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application tiled November 6, 1907. Serial No. 400,950.

To all whom 'it ina-y con-cern.'

Be it known that we, Joux LINDSAY, carpenter, and ROBERT LINDSAY, engine-driver, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, and residents of the city of Dunedin, in the British Colony of New Zealand, (whose postotlice address is Dunedin,) vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Re-` versible and Collapsible Trolley-Poles foi' Electric Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a trolley pole for conveying the electricity from an electric cable to a moving vehicle, so that it can be reversed without breaking contact with the cable and also one that can auv toinatically eollapse'if the trolle wheel Gets f to off the electric cable, instead o being' angerous as now. .The said pole is ca able of being reversed from more than one p ace in a car. For this purpose the pole is either formed of two lengths and sizes of tubes, one

to slide within the other, and normallly ke t extended by a spring in tension, or e se t ie pole is formed of two lengths pivoted and capable of being partly folded either way while reversing, but which are normally kept towards a straight line bv a spiral spring in tension. In either case the reversing is done by pulling the pole longitudinally over to the other position by a cord without breaking electrical contact with the cable.

An attachment can be added which allows the u )per length of the pole to collapse, should the trolley wheel leave the cable.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:- Figure 1 is part side elevation and part lonitudinal section of a pole partly drawn over or' reversing, showing it shortened Sufliciently to pass under die cable. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the upper pole collapsed, and a dot-ted outline of saine iu working position. Fig. S is an enlarged detail, a cross section of the pole where the spiral tension spring is. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the folding pole with tliecollapsing attachment. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of part of same. Fig. 6 is a detail of a suitable spiral spring adjustment.

A* is the usual pole socket.

A is the lower length of the telescoped pole and B is the smaller upper length preferably of other than round section, these are nor- .mally kept extended by the tension spring C.

a,fliisli joint at B. The enlarged sliding lower' end of B, B", is connected to a slotted link H ending in a slidinfr ring H which mayv have a roller to lessen 'riction. The roller normally is kept down under the segmental guard G when the joint Bl is still well within the tube A, a pair of these guards being arrane'ed in reverse relation on opposite sides of the pivot of the pole.

In reversing the weight of the cable revents the rise of the joint, but if the tro ley wheel leaves the cable and the pole becomes too' upright Hl leaves the opening of the guard G and the spring C lifts the pole so that the joint leaves i as in Fig. '2 when the top art collapses. chain or cord attached to H and brought (o any convenient point will rerect the pole.

A* is the lower length of the folding pole and B2 the upper leri"gtli.-\ This inodiication` will collapse in much the same wav if needed, by H1 and H leaving r and releasing the s ring Cl if the trolleyy reel leaves the cab e. Fig. 6 sets forth an i djustiiig arrangement at either end of spring t" if desired. D2 is a lug for the cords F F lused for reversinv. ing through the car round suitable pu leys not shown the ends being F and Fas shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

E are the trolley wheels of' usual make and EI the usual electric power cable. 'V-

It is obvious that a very elastic pole may be formed by the combination of the poles herein set forth, the lower length would telescope over the lower part of the middle length, with the spring as in Figs. 1 and 2; the upper )art of the middle length would pivot to tlie top length with the trolley wheel and has the tension spring as in Figs. 4 and 5, and this pole in three lengths would be suitable for high speed work and would lessen any jar in passing frogs We have tried various plans but the poles herein set. forth are believed to be the most effective. In this invention any suitable materials or sizes may be used- Having described our invention what we claim and desire to obtain a patent of the United States of America, is:-

1. A reversible trolley pole, comprising a.

These may be one cord, the body ass- TED amps PATENT OFFICE; y

base section, an upper section capable o a,-

pendently of the trolley wire for limiting the lengthening of the sections While the pole is `while the position o in operative' position, and means normally operatinvr to extend the sections relatively to one a'not 1er and ermitting a shortening of the pole nn'der tie ressure of the trolley ithe pole lis being reversed, said limiting device being inoperative-while the pole occupies an abnormal position.

2. A reversible trolley pole, comprising a base section, an upper section slidable longitudinally of the base section and carrying a trolley engaging device, a guard cooperating with the upper sect-ion forlimiting its movement While the pole is in an inclined position, and a spring normally operating to extend the sectlons relatively to one another and yieldable to permit a. shortening of the pole under thel pressure of the trolley while the pole is in a vertical position, said guard being disconnected from the u per pole section while the pole occupies sai( vertical position.

3. A reversible trolley pole, comprising a base sect-ion, a collapsible upper section 1vot-ed on an axis transverse to the lengt 1 of the base section, a spring normally acting to extend the sections relat1vely to one anot 1er and yieldable to permit a reversing of the pole while the latter remains in engagement with thetrolley wire, and a guard co )erating with said spring for retaining the atter in active condition while the pole is in operative inclined position and disengaging from the spring to release the latter while the pole occupies an intermediate or vertical position.

4. A reversible trolley pole, comprising a base section, an upper section guided for movement longitudinally of the base section,

a spring normally acting to extend the sections relatively to one another, and a pair of reversely arranged segmental guards arranged on opposite sides of the pole and coperating with said spring to retain the latter in active condition wlnle 'the pole occupies either of two operative positions, said guards being inoperative relatively to the spring While thc pole occupies an intermediate or vertical position.

5. A reversible 'trolley pole, comprising a. base section, and intern'iediate and up er within the base section, the atter serving to retain the intermediate and upper sections in alinement when said sections are in telescoped position, a spring coperating with the intermediate section and normally acting to telescope the intermediate and upper sections within the base section, lthe u )per section being capable of bending laterailv about sections plvotally connected to one anot 1er on :1 transverse axis and adapted to telescope its transverse axis when the upper section is l extended beyond the base section, and a` guard operatively connected to the intermediate section to retain the latter and a portion of the upper section in telescoped relation with the base section and disengaging from said intermediate section when the pole assumes a substantially vertical position.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN LINDSAY.

ROBERT LINDSAY.

Witnesses: Y

GEORGE SAMUEL TnoMsoN, HnN'roN MACAULAY Davm. 

